- Josko Gvardiol has played 21 times for Manchester City having joined in summer
- Pep Guardiola is known for his perfectionism, often giving post-match chats
- Ian Ladyman reveals the most BORING manager he’s dealt with during his career – It’s All Kicking Off
Pep Guardiola was spotted deep in conversation with defender Josko Gvardiol on Wednesday night, as he was clearly intent on hammering home a point or two player despite already having won the match.
Guardiola has earned himself a reputation as one of the most demanding perfectionists in football, and has developed a habit of delivering post-match grillings on the field.
On Wednesday it was at the scene of his side’s victorious return to the Premier League, coming from a goal down to beat Everton 3-1 at Goodson Park, having won the Club World Cup the previous week.
The recipient of his words this time round was Croatian international Gvardiol, with former star Raheem Sterling and Erling Haaland both having previously received an ear-full on the final whistle in the past.
The Spanish boss was seen offering some of his trademark expressive gestures to the defender, seemingly trying to show him some advice on how to improve in future.
Pep Guardiola was seen giving Josko Gvardiol some post-match pointers on Wednesday
After an expressive display the Spanish manager then pulled his defender in for an embrace
Guardiola’s side had just recorded a 3-1 win over Everton having come from a goal behind
The exchange continued for more than 10 seconds, before Guardiola pulled the player into an embrace and heading for the tunnel to conduct his post-match dressing-room debrief.
Gvardiol appeared to take the advice at face value, rather than become offended, perhaps understanding that this was part and parcel of learning under one of the finest minds in the game.
He will maybe have learned from previous examples that Guardiola prefers not to wait when looking to drill home a message to his players.
Haaland was subjected to a tongue-lashing after his side’s first Premier League game of the season, despite the Norwegian scoring twice against Burnley.
Guardiola saw fit to deliver a strong message to the young forward at half-time, despite being two goals to the good.
‘He wanted the ball in behind to him and that ball didn’t have to be in behind,’ he explained after the game.
‘Sometimes you have to be patient to find the right moment. He was not frustrated, I am not frustrated. In football it happens. Don’t be dramatic.’
Sterling was also on the receiving end of a Guardiola coaching lesson just minutes after scoring a brace in City’s 6-0 FA Cup final win over Watford in 2019.
Croatia international Gvardiol has become a key part of the Man City setup, playing 21 times
The England forward had just picked up his winners medal, but the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss still wanted to clarify a message that had gone misunderstood earlier on in the thrashing.
The Croatian defender Gvardiol has come straight into the Manchester City side since his summer arrival from RB Leipzig.
The versatile defender has largely set up shop at left back, although he is equally capable in central defence and has been deployed at central defensive midfield before in the past.
Since joining the Treble winners, Gvardiol has managed to rack up 21 games at the back, winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
